Choice Review

Busch and his coauthors evaluate the profound economic, social, political, ethical, and environmental effects of plant biotechnology. They review the research progress in this area up to the present. The book starts with evaluation of current research in biotechnology and looks at who is financing it, where the work is being done, and why. The authors conclude that a small number of multinational companies in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries in Western Europe, US, and Japan are the principal players, and that the economic returns are potentially immense. The book states that there are potential hazards in the environmental and social area, and points out where they are and what the future hazards may be. An economic model is developed that gives insight into the interrelationships among science, technology, law, economics, politics, and values. The authors are well qualified; the book is easy to read and interesting. Few illustrations; 26 pages of references; adequate index. Plant biotechnology has the potential to be so beneficial and, at the same time, so extremely hazardous to society that this book should be a part of all college and university libraries. -H. W. Ockerman, The Ohio State University